Teaching Your Child About The Wonderful Game of Golf

Due to Tiger Woods popularity, an ever increasing number of children are paying attention to the wonderful game of golf. Tiger himself is making golf a very popular sport among children and they no longer consider golf just another boring game.

Discovery:

As children discover more about the game, they realize it fosters friendly competition and a new found form of amusement. What kid hasn’t knocked golf balls around with their parents old clubs. I used to do it on the front lawn and try to putt the ball into a hole at the base of an old oak tree. Of course my parents were just keeping me out of their hair, but what if they had decided to help me actually learn the game and become more proficient at it? Perhaps they would have used the ideas below to get me beyond that hole in the oak tree.

Formal Training:

of the worst things you can do is to teach your child yourself. Teaching your child your “bad habits” is the best way to head them down the wrong path right from the start. If your child shows a mild interest in golf, “do the right thing” and enroll your child in a class. Many golf courses hold classes specially designed for children. Of course there is a wide array of golf training aids which you can purchase for your child.

The Equipment:

Since most of us don’t have an unlimited supply of cash, jumping to purchase new gear for a child is unnecessary and rather senseless. When you enroll your child in a class, the necessary equipment is provided. Giving your child the experience of the game and using the provided equipment will not only save you money in the short term but will also give you time to evaluate whether or not your child truly enjoys golf. Why spend any money on equipment only to find that your child has no true interest in golf?

Patience... A Virtue:

When out on the driving range or golf course, it is critically important that you have infinite patience with your child. Long drives and putts will come in time. As the parent, your main focus must be on support. It is support that goes a long way in the short term and far into the future. As a parent, you already know that support and encouragement are the keys to your child’s success. So why would it be any different on the golf course?

When learning any new “instrument”, there will be many incidents of “screeches and sour notes” before they produce a pleasing melody. Let your child progress at their rate, not yours. Learning the “finer points” is not nearly important for the young beginner. Remember that golf is no different and any other “instrument”.

Down The Road:

When your child has completed a class and continues to show a genuine interest in the game, provide them with the incentive to continue by purchasing set of golf clubs of their own. Insure the clubs are professionally fitted. You must realize that the clubs you purchase today will be unworkable for them in a year or two. For this very reason, be sure to shop around and buy a less expensive set of clubs.

Bonding and Communication:

Your time golfing with your child or children is much more than a game. From their perspective, you are providing them with a long term memory of you. As a friend of mine use to tell me about meeting women; don’t get too serious with a girl in the beginning, take it “light and easy” and see how the relationship develops.

That is a good philosophy to apply on the golf course. Your approach should be “light and easy” to give your child time to grow and feel as if they are your golf partner not your child. At times you may want to try talking about things other than golf.
Surprisingly, you will most likely find that the golf course opens the lines of communication very well.

Wrap Up:

Your child may not be the next Tiger Woods but they can grow to love the game. More importantly, they can grow and enjoy the time you spend together. This is the stuff long term memories are made of.

Other sites of Interest:

Junior Links
Golf Link
Junior Golf Instruction on Youtube